Effective Nov. 1, 2015, Jason Andringa will serve as Vermeer’s President and CEO. This announcement was first made in August 2014, as part of the company’s family succession planning process.

“I’m excited, honored and humbled to have the opportunity to continue my family’s legacy of leadership at Vermeer into the third generation,” said Jason Andringa. “We will continue to fulfill our promise to our customers by capitalizing on our strengths – innovative, high-quality products; entrepreneurial dealers; and the diligent practice of continuous improvement while continuing to create opportunities for growth with today’s fast-moving customer expectations in mind.”

Prior to becoming president and CEO, Andringa served as president and COO, in addition to a number of other roles at Vermeer. Before joining Vermeer in 2005, he was a staff engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Andringa graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Calvin College and later completed advanced degrees including a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Andringa and his wife live in Pella, Iowa, with their three children.

Mary Andringa, current CEO and chair of the board, will assume the role of chair of the board exclusively Nov. 1, 2015. “It’s been a great honor and privilege to be CEO,” said Mary Andringa. “I am confident in Jason and the entire team who will continue the work that’s been happening here for the last 68 years as they lead this company into a bright future.”

As part of its family succession planning process, Vermeer Corporation today announced that third-generation family member, Jason Andringa, will serve as the company’s next President & CEO effective Nov. 1, 2015.

On Nov. 1, 2014, Jason will assume the role of President & Chief Operating Officer for one year, when he will transition to the role of President & CEO of Vermeer Corporation. He currently serves as President of Forage and Environmental Solutions.

“Gary Vermeer, my grandfather and Vermeer founder, was very influential for me personally and professionally,” said Jason Andringa. “Since a young age, I had a passion to follow in his footsteps. In the mid-90s, I traveled on a business trip overseas with my mother, Mary, and saw firsthand the global demand for Vermeer equipment and the impact it was making on local communities across the world. That trip solidified my path to Vermeer. I am honored to have the opportunity to lead Vermeer as a family-owned and operated, global company into a prosperous future.”

Mary Andringa, current President & CEO, will assume the role of CEO & Chair of the Board Nov. 1, 2014. Mary will transition exclusively to Chair of the Board Nov. 1, 2015.

“I look forward to working closely with Jason this coming year to prepare him for the transition to CEO in Nov. 2015,” said second-generation family member Mary Andringa. “As an entire family, we are proud to announce the third-generation leadership who we know with confidence can propel us to new heights.”

Bob Vermeer, current Chairman of the Board, will assume the role of Chair Emeritus. The honorary role for individuals who served as Vermeer CEO or Chair of the Board will be effective Nov. 1, 2014.

“The Vermeer family and Board of Directors have worked diligently for more than two decades to establish a robust and extensive family employment policy and succession planning process,” said Bob Vermeer, second-generation family member. “We are confident that Jason’s education and experience have prepared him exceptionally to lead the company.

Vermeer Texas-Louisiana, a market leader in environmental and underground construction equipment with 11 locations across Texas and southern Louisiana, held a groundbreaking ceremony for their San Antonio facility relocation.

Located directly off the IH-35 corridor on the Northeast side of San Antonio within the city limits of Selma, the new 34,000 sq. ft. facility will be built on 8.2 acres and will open in early 2013. The store will include additional space for heavy equipment, parts inventory, service, training and sales. The new facility will replace the branch located on the east side of San Antonio, which has been open since 1978.

The dealership has been awarded the Pinnacle Award, the highest distinction awarded by the manufacturer, recognizing excellence in customer service and support. The groundbreaking event was hosted in partnership with the Randolph Metrocom Chamber of Commerce, which supports economic development and business growth in Selma and nine other local communities.

“We are extremely grateful for the support we have received from our San Antonio customer base over the past 30 years,” said Vice President Mike Bye. “We are investing in this new facility to demonstrate our continued commitment to better service our customers in the region.”

McLaughlin Group Inc. has announced that Vermeer Corporation, along with Jeff Wage —a veteran professional of the underground construction industry — has made a minority equity investment in the company.

Dave Gasmovic, president of McLaughlin, is the primary shareholder and will continue to lead operations. Wage joins McLaughlin as vice president and an equity partner, while the minority equity investment by Vermeer provides a deeper strategic relationship with McLaughlin.

“The Vermeer investment in our company is a strategic business partnership that positions both for further success,” said Gasmovic. “Our current partners and customers will not be affected by this change and can count on the consistent support they’ve come to expect with McLaughlin.”

“Vermeer has had a long-standing relationship with McLaughlin by representing its vacuum products and utilizing McLaughlin as an OEM supplier on components for our underground products, most recently with the new Vermeer piercing tool line,” said Dave Wisniewski, vice president of the underground segment for Vermeer Corporation. “The purpose of this investment is to secure a competitive position in the market.”

This new ownership arrangement will not affect the current branding or distribution of McLaughlin products, including vacuum excavation systems, auger boring systems, locators and attachments.

The changing political and economic landscape, “first person” strategic thinking from industry CEOs, innovation, distribution and breakthrough marketing strategies are on the agenda of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) 2011 Annual Conference, set for November 2-5, 2011 at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle in Aventura (Miami), Florida.

The AEM annual conference is the leading education and networking gathering for senior executives in the off-road equipment manufacturing industry. With the underlying theme that your choices of today determine your company of tomorrow, the conference will offer attendees a variety of perspectives to help them master “the art of decisions” to run their companies profitably despite challenging conditions.

This year’s conference opens with a Wednesday evening (November 2) reception, followed by an intensive two-day speaker program, and concludes Saturday (November 5) with networking events and a golf tournament.

The lead-off session examines political decision making and consequences for the industry, with former Republican Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and veteran Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile, who is Democratic National Committee vice chair of voter registration and participation and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. Moderator is Major Garrett, U.S. congressional correspondent and columnist for the National Journal.

A “Decisions of the Day” panel of industry CEOs discusses the complex issues facing manufacturers both domestically and globally, with Mary Andringa, president and CEO, Vermeer Corporation; Leif Magnusson, regional director Americas and president North America holdings, CLAAS of America; and John Patterson, chairman and CEO, JCB.

“Economy of Our Industries” breakout sessions feature economic experts on construction and agriculture to help attendees make sense of the wide variety of economic indicators affecting business. Panelists include Joe Glauber, chief economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture; Mark Vitner, managing director and senior economist for Wells Fargo & Company; and James Meil, vice president and chief economist with Eaton Corporation.

Also on the AEM annual conference agenda:

Growth through innovation by developing a culture of creativity, with Sundaram Nagarajan, executive vice president of Illinois Tool Works

Distribution channel issues of the future, including results of research which included AEM members plus industry dealers and end users, with Michael Marks, co-founder of Indian Rivers Consulting Group

“Listening” internally and externally to inspire, motivate and create loyalty, with Roger Nierenberg, creator of “The Music Paradigm”

The association will also hold its annual business meeting and meetings of several board-level committees in conjunction with the annual conference, as well as AEM Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. Details and online registration are available in the Education section of the AEM website – www.aem.org.